Chapter 27: In This Ring, Room Only For Two

Chapter 27: In This Ring, Room Only For Two

Fight!

Chang Bolin rushed at him. His sword rushed from its sheath, and he struck at Huis throat.

Hui leaped backward, dragging out his training sword at the same time. He struck the blade upward with the butt of the hilt, redirecting the blade away from his neck. Chang Bolin flowed with the strike and let the sword fly high, then fall back on Hui. Clumsily, Hui blocked the blow. A notch flew from his swords blunt blade.

Not even a real sword? Does your mockery ever end? Chang Bolin snarled.

Ive never mocked you. Not once, Hui replied calmly.

Chang Bolin snorted and jumped back. Hui backed away as well, circling as he watched for Chang Bolins next move.

A foot, slammed onto stone. Motion, a blur. He shifted slightly, and the sword cut a gash in his side rather than piercing his stomach. Pain, cold, blood. He gasped and pushed them all to the back. Endure.

A cheer went up from the stands. He cast a glance in their direction. Bloodthirsty, are you? Oh, just wait. Ill give you plenty.

Chang Bolin drew away again, grinning. He slung the blood off his blade. A talentless waste. Tell me, which part of you did Weiheng Wu see worth in?

My face, Hui replied quietly, just loud enough for Chang Bolin to hear.

Disgust flashed over Chang Bolins face. He leaped again, another blur.

Prepared, Hui parried. Chang Bolins blade sparked against his, inches from his face.

Let me take that from you, Chang Bolin hissed, pressing against Huis sword.

Hui fell back, unable to fight Chang Bolins power. His heel slipped off the edge of the arena.

Chang Bolin let up suddenly, retreating to the center. Given a moments respite, Hui popped pills into his mouth and tucked them into his cheek, waiting.

Jeers rang out from the crowd. On with it! Wheres the fight?

Afraid? Cant take a real fight? Chang Bolin taunted from the center.

You dont want a ring-out? Wonderful. Neither do I. Hui rushed at him, sword lowered for Chang Bolins solar plexus.

Chang Bolin countered, flicking his blade to deflect Huis blow. His sword darted in, piercing Hui through between two ribs. He laughed. Childs play.

Grimacing, Hui grabbed Chang Bolins blade, locking it in his body, and sliced at him.

Chang Bolin yanked his blade free and sidestepped, easily avoiding the slice, then slashed, blade too fast for Hui to follow, let alone block. Blood spurted across his chest. Hui hissed, clutching a hand across the cut.

Shall we end this pathetic farce? Chang Bolin asked.

How did it feel, running to daddy for help when things didnt go your way? Sucking up to Lan Taijian when you couldnt destroy a tiny mortal? Chang Bolin, you blame me for getting ahead undeservingly, but didnt you do the same? Hui asked.

Chang Bolins face flushed. He slashed at Hui. His sword wandered, distracted. Shut up! Unlike you, I have talent!

The crowd cheered, excited at the rapid swordplay. Only a few experts fell silent, able to see Chang Bolins mistakes.

Hui deflected his clumsy blows. Do you? This little disciple can stand as your equal on this stage. How long has it taken you to kill me? What happened to ten seconds, huh?

Wh-what? Chang Bolin shuddered. His body jolted hard. The sword fell out of his hands.

Qi tore through Huis body and snarled into Chang Bolins. Huis qi passageways shuddered. Rips opened up along their length, the acid ache of escaped qi twisting into his muscles and organs. He held on, still channeling his qi into Chang Bolin. Aa little more!

Chang Bolin staggered back. He put a hand on his dantian. N-no! Settle! St, stop this!

Ah, thats enough. Sliding the pills out of his cheek, Hui swallowed.

A healing heat rushed into his stomach at the same time as the now-familiar cool-tingle of Zhubis poison. Working in concert, the blood-red pills closed his wounds, while the silver pill quieted his qi. Hui coughed and spat up a glob of black-and-silver streaked blood, then fell back.

Blood still leaked down his body. His heart trembled, struggling. His lungs ached, each breath agony. His guts were a mass of pain. Not not enough. I need more pills. He reached for his sleeve. His hand wandered through the air, suddenly heavy, weighed upon by gravity. It flopped uselessly back to the earth.

He turned his eyes to Chang Bolin. Atat least him

Chang Bolin staggered across the arena, eyes wild. His body trembled. He fell to his knees, gripping at his neck, then climbed awkwardly back to his feet. No, no, I I have talent.

He snatched up his sword, a sharp, jerky motion. Turned to the crowd. One step, stumble, another. His head slopped to the side, eyes wide as Starbound Peaks bowls. None of the rest of you deserving. Should be me, only me

Hui coughed, half-choking on blood. All the same, his lips twisted up. Qi deviation. My plan went off flawlessly.

His vision faded. His qi fluttered with his heartbeat, no play this time. He closed his eyes. Ah. Maybe there was one flaw.

In the small gap of his closing vision, he saw Chang Bolin leap toward the stands. Lit by the sun ahead of him, his form became a shadow.

Hui blinked slowly. Someone will stop him. Itll be

A figure in white descended from the heavens, robes fluttering. A single sword strike, sharp as lightning.

Chang Bolin stiffened. His head fell from his neck. He slumped sideways.

A light shone inside Chang Bolins chest, not qi but something else. Hui watched it, mesmerized. The light guttered, then went out. A thread of black smoke rose from the place where the flame had been.

Not smoke. Qi. Death qi. Hui tried to reach toward it, but his hand barely twitched.

The white figure walked over to Hui and crouched down. Lan Taijian gazed down at him, his face impassive and yet, more terrifying than it had ever been before. Even though he was dying, Hui felt the chill of death shiver over him.

Today, you made me kill a promising disciple. Make up for it with every day of the rest of your life, or die yourself, which do you choose?

Huis lips moved, but no sound came out. Life, I choose life. Are you kidding me? I dont want to die yet! I only like playing dead, I dont want to die for real!

Lan Taijian stood and walked away. Feebly, Hui reached after him. Hey, wait, come back! What happened to making up for it with my life?

Hui, Xiao Hui! Soft hands cradled his head. Gentle fingers pressed a pill into his mouth.

He swallowed, blinking. Whwho?

Pink robes. Black hair. A gold pin, familiar.

The pill exploded with bitterness. It twisted down his stomach, forcing its way through him. He tensed, bucking.

Darkness claimed him.